Attended by Canadian auto dealer, this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), hosted by the Detroit Automobile Dealers Association (DADA) proved to be a major high point for hometown automakers, with big previews and awards for Ford, Chrysler and General Motors.
One of the biggest (and earliest) announcements was the unveiling of Ford’s 2015 F-150. Still the best-selling truck in North America and a major profit centre for the automaker, the new F-150 aims to raise the standard for full-size pickups. A key differentiator between the new model and the current truck, concerns the body, which is made largely from aluminum. Designed to help Ford meet tougher Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, the new F-150 is approximately 700 lbs (317 kg) lighter than the outgoing model and also gets a smaller 3.5-litre base engine and the option of a 2.7-litre EcoBoost V-6.
General Motors had a good run at NAIAS — its 2014 Chevrolet Silverado being named North American Truck of the Year, while the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray took home Car of the Year honours. Additionally, GM unveiled its new Corvette Z06 and Cadillac ATS coupe, indicating that performance and fun were very much on the minds of many in the industry this year. Chrysler, meanwhile, took the covers off its new 200 sedan, a model the automaker hopes will help it gain ground in the crucial mid-size sedan market, especially against the likes of Ford, Honda and Toyota.
Speaking of the latter, Japan’s largest carmaker continues to push a performance edge and revealed the stunning FT-1 concept, a rear-drive super sportscar concept that pays homage to legendary models such as the 2000GT and Toyota Supra. Since the departure of the Lexus LF-A, the company hasn’t had a true a halo product in the same fashion and with the popularity of its Scion FR-S sports coupe in the U.S., the timing could be right to introduce a bigger brother.
Lexus meanwhile, revealed a production ready sports car, the dramatic V-8 powered RC F, which is slated to go on sale in September.
The emphasis on performance and fun could also be found among brands as diverse as Kia and Porsche. The former introduced a stunning, sporty concept called the GT4 Stinger. Created in the mould of cars such as the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ, which are lightweight, fun-to-drive, affordable sports coupes, it indicates that Kia could well enter the fold, even though at present, there are no plans to put the GT4 Stinger into production.
Porsche meanwhile, delivered a modern take on a classic theme, unveiling a new open roof Targa variation of its 911 Carrera 4 and 4S all-wheel drive coupes. Just like the original 1967 911 Targa, it features a satin silver finished “tiara” band, though an automatically retracting roof panel makes stowage a little more convenient and faster than on the1967-93 Targa.
Combining performance with a bit of thrift were BMW’s new M3 and M4 models, which use twin turbo inline six-cylinder engines (in lieu of a V-8) to deliver more than 400 horsepower. Despite being larger than the old M3 sedan/coupe (which they replace) the new models are also lighter, making use of aluminum and carbon fibre to reduce weight and boost fuel economy.
Other highlights of this year’s Detroit show were sporty concepts from Nissan and Infiniti, a new Volkswagen Golf R and Subaru WRX STI (both aimed at the rally enthusiast set) and other significant new model introductions, ranging from a volume entry-level car such as the 2015 Honda Fit to the ultimate in large, executive transportation, in the form of a new Mercedes-Benz S 600 flagship.
Despite the auto industry going through some lean times in recent years and the City of Detroit still struggling in the wake of its bankruptcy filing, there was definitely a mood of optimism at the 2014 North American International Auto Show, indicated by the number of sporty vehicle debuts and a bustling show floor. As the economy grows, demand for niche, performance oriented models tends to grow along with it.
Given that the industry is coming off a strong year in 2013 in terms of volume in the U.S. (15,600,199 units sold, up from 14,491,873 in 2012*) and signs that such momentum will likely remain, at least for the foreseeable future; the atmosphere at NAIAS would indicate that near-term prospects seem rosy, both for OEMs and new car dealers. This year’s show runs from January 13-26.
*Source: www.motorintelligence.com
